August Thoughts

​I find myself grieving, grieving for the loss of my dog Lucy, renewed grief for the loss of my beloved father as I prepare to bury his cremains on the 28th, grief at the cruelty of aging and disease whether cancer, Alzheimer’s Dementia, heart disease, lung disease or decreasing memory and mobility; of things that will never be the same.
 
I feel incredible joy in God’s creation: juicy peaches, watermelon and blackberries, warm zucchini bread, fresh beets, tomatoes and green beans; the wonder of a solar eclipse and the beautifully intricate patterns formed under the trees; the complexity of a cat’s paw; the pleasure of a walk in the park with a friend.
 
I feel anger and deep sorrow in the violence and hate found in our world: threats of nuclear weapons, the needless deaths of young men and women from alcohol, drugs, high-speed cars and guns; of bullying, racism, sexism, and domestic violence.  O God how am I part of this, convict me of my own contributions to violence and hate; lead me in building the Kingdom of Heaven here and now, thy will be done.
 
O God, I give you thanks for the love of family and friends, of Jon, my mother, Jocelyn, Dick and the people of St. James’, for new pets to love, Marmalade and Safari.  O God, I give you thanks that I am not alone, in praying the Great Thanksgiving I hear the voices of those who have gone before me; in saying the Daily Office I find rest and peace.  I give thanks for the building of community and relationships through the Peapod Literacy Program and through the Albion Community Gardens.  May the Kingdom of Heaven grow as we grow together as Sisters and Brothers.  I give thanks for new families who have come to join us, may we become family for them.  I give thanks for the beginning of a new year with the startup of choir and Christian Formation.  O God, be with us in our worship, our learning, our work, and our leisure as we believe you always are,  Give us the certainty of your love, this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.